Our upper back is made of 12 vertebrae in the mid spine section. It helps to stand upright and protects the organs inside the chest. Though lower back problems are more common than upper back pain, still upper back issues could be quite serious and harmful for health that need to be treated by back pain doctor.
Acute and Chronic Upper Back Pain
When the back pain lasts for four to 12 weeks or this is related to tissue damage – it is known as acute back pain. When the back pain lasts for more than three months and does not heal with the tissue – this could be chronic pain.
Acute Back Pain Symptoms
The most common acute back pain symptoms are –
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Sharp pain
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Discomfort in back
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Stiff back
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Radiating pain
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Numbness or weakness or tingling
Chronic Back Pain Symptoms
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Intense pain that affects the functional ability
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Pain for a prolonged time
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Numbness and tingling on back and legs
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Fever, chest pain, weakness, sudden weight loss and problem to urinate
Causes of Upper Back Pain
Poor Posture
When you are living a sedentary lifestyle, you are prone to follow a poor posture. Sitting on a desk for long hours can keep your spine in poor posture and can damage the structures of neck and back. The muscles start becoming deconditioned and week. It will be unable to hold the spine in the aligned position. The head and the shoulders should not be hunched forward as it will place more pressure on the spinal discs, muscles, ligaments and other tissues. If you are inclined to one side when you are driving, working at the computer and it may also cause imbalance on the upper back.
Lifting Technique
When you lift a heavy object and your spine is not aligned it can put stress on your back. While holding or lifting a heavy object over the head, or inclined left or right than being centered, can make the shoulder and upper back injured.
Accident
Trauma from a car accident, falling from height, slip, sports injury can cause upper back injury. These injuries can hurt bones, spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, soft tissues and other nerves.
Herniated Discs
Though herniated disc in thoracic spine is very common, this is very unlikely to show symptoms.
Arthritis
Different types of arthritis can develop in thoracic spine. Osteoarthritis can happen due to natural wear and tear. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Call Neuroscience Specialists for back pain specialist. We would help you in relieving back pain.
**Information presented here is not intended to be qualified medical advice. Nothing expressed herein creates a doctor-patient relationship.